Gummed tape dispenser

ABSTRACT

A tape dispenser has a support structure on which are mounted a gummed tape roll, tape controls, tape moistener and a service unit. The unit has a pair of pivoted plates, between which a leading portion of tape is threaded, and a pivoted handle that carries a shearing assembly adapted to cut across the tape and form a U-shaped slit therein for providing a dry tab by which tape is withdrawn over the moistener. The plates and handle have a common pivotal axis in the form of a hollow shaft connected by a pivot rod to the support structure. The tape controls center the tape and slow the unrolling of the tape roll during withdrawal of the tape and include a friction member engaging the bottom of the tape roll, a cover for taking up slack in the leading tape portion, and guides engaging tape edges. The moistener has a spongelike member of parallelepiped shape which can be turned end-for-end and the positions of the top edges reversed after wear to prolong the useful life of the moistener.

Unite States atet 1 Higbee Nov. 11, 1975 GUMMED TAPE DISPENSER Primary Examiner-F rank T. Yost [76] Inventor, James H. Higbee, 271 Livingston Attorney, Agent, or Finn-John H. Crowe; Peter H.

St.,.Banning, Calif. 92220 [22] Filed: Oct 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 403,053

[52] US. Cl. 83/449; 83/599; 83/611; 83/649; 118/41 [51] Int. Cl. B26D 9/00 [58] Field of Search 83/449, 649, 599, 611;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,592,431 7/1926 Uttz, Sr 118/41 X 1,675,196 6/1928 Uttz, Sr... 118/41 X 1,846,811 2/1932 Link r 83/649 X 1,958,443 5/1934 Phillips... 118/41 X 2,224,100 12/1940 Gautier 118/41 X 2,382,787 8/1945 Gautier et al.. 118/41 X 2,806,529 9/1957 Bulman 225/46 2,931,419 4/1960 Humphner 83/599 X 3,050,853 8/1962 Domeny 83/649 X 3,208,428 9/1965 Doyle ll8/41 F irsht [5 7] ABSTRACT A tape dispenser has a support structure on which are mounted a gummed tape roll, tape controls, tape moistener and a service unit. The unit has a pair of pivoted plates, between which a leading portion of tape is threaded, and a pivoted handle that carries a shearing assembly adapted to cut across the tape and form a U-shaped slit therein for providing a dry tab by which tape is withdrawn over the moistener. The plates and handle have a common pivotal axis in the form of a hollow shaft connected by a pivot rod to the support structure. The tape controls center the tape and slow the unrolling of the tape roll during withdrawal of the tape and include a friction member engaging the bottom of the tape roll, a cover for taking up slack in the leading tape portion, and guides engaging tape edges. The moistener has a spongelike member of parallelepiped shape which can be turned endfor-end and the positions of the top edges reversed after wear to prolong the useful life of the moistener.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures GUMMED TAPE DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE. INVENTION No. 1,675,196, and the present invention is a novel and improved version thereof, being of simpler and more economical construction and possessing features for accommodating and controlling rolls of wider tape than in the patented machine and effectively shearing even reinforced gummed tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a gummed tape dispenser which has a service assembly for shearing tape and forming a dry handling tab, the assembly being of unitary construction and readily removable and replaceable as a unit.

Another object of the present inventionis to provide a tape dispenser having a service unit that cooperates with tape moistening means and tape control means for providing lengths of tape in a simple and easy manner for the sealing of packages, cartons and the like.

A further object is to provide a tape dispenser of the type described in which the tape moistening means is deformable and the service unit presses thereagainst and disposes thetape contiguous thereto.

Still another object is to provide a tape dispenser having a service assembly and means for controlling the unrolling of a roll of tape and taking up the slack in the portion of the tape between the roll and service assembly. 7

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the provision of a tape dispenser having a support structure on which a tape roll, tape control means, tape moistening means and tape shearing means are mounted. A leading portion of the tape is threaded into the tape shearing means and withdrawn therefrom over the moistening means, causing unrolling of the tape roll, which unrolling is controlled by a friction spring member engaged with the underside of the main body of the roll, and a cover swingable about its rear end and having a rounded front end for taking up slack in the leading tape portion. The moistening means includes a moistener in the form of a spongelike plastic material having a rectangular parallepiped shape so that the moistener can be turned end-for-end and the front and rear edges reversed after wear to prolong the useful life of the moistener. The tape shearing means is in the form of a service unit pivotally mounted on the support structure and having a pair of superposed pivoted plates between which the leading portion of the tape is received and a tape shearing assembly mounted on a swingable handle, the plates and handle having a common pivotal axis in the form of a hollow shaft that is pivotally connected, as a unit, to the support structure by a pivot rod having ends fitted to the structure. The tape shearing assembly has a transverse tape-severing blade with unbeveled ends and a V- shaped intermediate beveled blade edge, and a tabforming U-shaped blade with unbeveled rounded point edges at its sides and beveled edges extending fore and aft therefrom for shearing a U-shaped slit in the tape and providing a dry tape tab. One of the plates has a transverse slot and an aperture for receiving the tapesevering blade and the tab-forming blade, respectively, a tab lifter in the aperture lifting the dry tab after it is formed. Slots in the other plate permit passage of the blades and withdrawal of the dry tape tab for pulling the gummed side of the tape over the moistener and providing a desired length of moistened tape having a dry tab for facilitating dispensing and handling of the tape length.

Other advantages of the present invention will become more'apparent from a viewing of the drawings and a reading of the detailed description that follows:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tape dispenser in accordance with the present invention, with parts broken away to show details of construction.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tape dispenser, parts being broken away to show structural details.

FIG. 3 is a larger scale expanded perspective view of the service unit of the tape dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a tape dispenser l0 embodying the principles of the present invention. The tape dispenser includes a support structure 12, moistenin g means 14, tape control means 16, and a service unit 18 for shearing tape.

The support structure 12 has a pair of side walls 20, a rear end wall 22, a front end wall 24 and an intermediate wall 26, all supported on legs 28 resting on a surface S. Walls 24 and 26 are interconnected by a bottom wall 30 as well as side walls 20, to form a water reservoir W. On the inside of the side walls 20 of the reservoir are shoulders 32 (one being shown in FIG. 1) which provide a pair of ledges that support a splash plate 34. Fitted between the splash plate and the front end wall 24 is a moistener 36, made of a spongelike, deformable plastic material and having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. With such a shape, the moistener can be turned end-for-end, and the positions of the top edges reversed after wear to prolong the useful life of the moistener.

As better seen in FIG. 2, each of the side walls 20 is formed with a semi-circular boss 38 in which a support shaft 40 is removably mounted. The shaft supports a tape roll R having a leading portion P. The underside of the tape is gummed and passes over the top of the wall 26 and is received by the service unit 18. As later made more clear, the leading portion of the tape is drawn through the service unit and causes the tape roll to unroll.

The tape dispenser 10 of the present invention is especially adapted to accommodate large rolls of relatively wide tape compared to the tape roll of the aforementioned patented machine. The large wide rolls of tape have considerable mass, and, unless the unrolling thereof is controlled, undue slack can develop, even to the extent of a loose loop reaching to the surface S. To prevent such development, there is provided a forwardly extending member 42 of spring material which is tensioned and frictionally engages the underside of the tape roll R, the rear end of the member being secured to the base of the rear end wall 22. If desired, the spring member can be secured to the base of the intermediate wall 26 and project rearwardly into engagement with the tape roll. In either case, the tension of the spring member is greatest initially, when the tape roll is new and full size, the tension decreasing gradually as the size of the roll is reduced with use, but providing sufficient frictional engagement with the roll to slow its unrolling, as well as to hold the outer layer of tape against the body of the tape roll.

For further control of the tape roll R, and to take up slack in the leading tape portion P, there is disposed atop the tape roll an arcuate member 44 which serves as a cover therefor. The cover 44 has a rounded rear end 46 resting on top of the rear end wall 22 and loosely fitted about a rod 48 having ends supported by the side walls 20. Thus, the cover can pivot generally about the axis of the rod. The cover also has a front end 50 which is rounded and rests on the leading portion P of the tape for taking up slack therein.

The tape roll R is centered between the side walls by a pair of guide rods 52 engaging the sides of the tape roll. The base of the rear end wall 22 is provided with two sets of spaced holes 54, the lower ends of the guide rods being fitted in selected holes depending upon the width of the tape roll used in the dispenser. There are also two sets of spaced holes 56 in the top of the intermediate wall 26 for receiving a pair of guide posts 58 and centering the leading tape portion P.

The tape portion P is recieved by the service unit 18 between a lower plate 60 and an upper plate 62, better seen in FIG. 3, the former serving to support the tape end and the latter to hold it down. Plates 60 and 62 are provided with pairs of bent-up pivot tabs 64 and 66, respectively, the tabs being journaled on a hollow shaft 68. A handle member 70 of inverted U-shaped form has legs 72 through which the shaft 68 extends, the shaft being journaled on a pivot rod 74 which has ends removably mounted on the side walls 20, as by being fitted to transversely aligned perforations 76 or the like. Thus, the plates 60 and 62 and legs 72 have a common pivotal axis, and the service unit 18 is easily removable.

Mounted on the legs 72, for pivotal movement therewith, is a tape shearing assembly 78, which includes an attaching plate portion 80, a flange portion 82, a tapesevering blade portion 84, and a U-shaped tab-forming blade 86 secured to the plate portion 80. The blade portion 84 has a V-shaped beveled blade edge 88 and unbeveled rounded comer ends 90. The U-shaped blade 86 has a pair of distal rounded point unbeveled edges 92 between which extends a U-shaped beveled blade edge 94, and from which extend sloping beveled blade edges 96. The edges 90 and 92 are unbeveled to avoid hazardous sharp pointed ends and provide a degree of safety.

The tape support plate 60 has a transverse aperture or slot 98 that is long and narrow, in which the tapesevering blade portion 84 is received. The plate also has a slot or aperture 100 having side edges and an interconnecting rounded edge with which the U-shaped tab-forming blade 86 cooperates to shear a U-shaped slit in the tape portion P and form a tape tab T. Disposed under the plate is a flat spring member 102 suitably secured to the plate adjacent the rear edge thereof and extending forwardly, as shown in FIG. 1, the member terminating in an archlike end 104 which projects upwardly through the aperture 100 for lifting the tape tab T. The tape hold-down plate 62 has a longitudinal slot 106 and lateral slots 108. Slot 106 is slightly wider 4 than aperture and in registration therewith for permitting passage of the tab-forming blade 86. It also permits withdrawal of the tape tab T. The slots 108 register with the slot 98 and permit passage of the blade portion 84.

The plate 62 has a rear edge 110 coterminous with the rear edges of the pivot tabs 64 and when the plate is swung upwardly its rear edge is disposed well above the support plate 60 so that the tape portion P can be easily passed therebetween and disposed over the aperture 100. When the plate 62 is swung downwardly, the tape portion P and tab lifter 104 are pressed down and the plate 62 contacts raised points 112 on the plate 60. The points transmit pressure from the plate 62 to the plate 60 and define a spacetherebetween for passage of the tape. The plate 62 is urged against the points 112 by a pair of coil springs 114 coiled about the shaft 68, each coil spring having ends reacting against the plate 62 and the flange 82, respectively.

Pressure transmitted to the plate 60 is applied to the rear edge of the moistener 36 by means of a curved lip 116 at the front end of the plate which deforms the moistener as shown in FIG. 1. The plate 62 has a front portion 1 18 located forwardly of the lip 116 and serves to dispose the tape portion P contiguous to the moistener as the tape is withdrawn from the dispenser.

The plates 60 and 62 are easily swung upwardly to provide easy access to the water reservoir W and moistener 36 for the addition of water and reversal of the moistener. Easy removal of the service unit 18, splash plate 34 and moistener 36 provides even better access for cleaning and filling the water reservoir, and cleaning of the service unit, moistener and splash plate separately.

The reaction of the coil springs 114 against the flange 82 urges the handle 70 to the upright position shown in FIG. 1 and presses one of the legs 72 against a rubber bumper 120 mounted on a post 122 on the support structure 12.

It is believed that the operation of the tape dispenser of the present invention is clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. With the parts disposed as shown in FIG. 1, the tab T is grasped between the fingers and withdrawn forwardly, pulling the tape portion P through the service unit 18, between the plates 60 and 62, and over the moistener 36, until a desired length of moistened tape has been withdrawn. Initial pull upon the tape portion tautens it and raises the cover 44 slightly for easier turning of the tape roll R, but too rapid unrolling is prevented by the friction spring member 42. When there is no longer any pull on the tape end, the cover descends and its rounded front end 50 takes up the slack in the tape portion between the roll R and the service unit 18. The handle 70 is then swung, counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, and the unbeveled rounded points 92 of the U-shaped blade 86 cooperate with the adjacent side edges of the aperture 100 to shear a pair of short slits in the tape portion which slits are extended fore and aft by the action of the beveled edges 94 and 96 to shear a U-shaped slit in the tape and form a tape tab T that is lifted out of the plane of the tape portion by the tab lifter 104. In the meantime, the unbeveled ends 90 of the blade portion 84 enter the slot 98 and the laterally outward portions of the V-shaped beveled blade edge 88 engage the edges of the tape portion for shearing the same from the edges inwardly. Such shearing action is very effective, even severing reinforced tape fairly easily.

ln the case of a new tape roll, the cover 44 is swung out of the way, clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, the new roll is mounted on the shaft 40, the plate 62 is then swung upwardly and the tape portion P is passed between the plates rear edge 110 and plate 60 and drawn to be disposed at least over the aperture 100, after which the plate 62 g is released. Counterclockwise swinging of the handle 70 of the service unit 18 forms a tape tab T and holds the tape portion in place. Cover 44 is swung back so that its rounded end 50 takes up any slack in the tape portion.

There has thus been provided a gummed tape dispenser of simpler and more economical construction which has readily removable parts and operates in a relatively easy and effective manner.

Although the present invention has been herein described in what is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that many variations of the embodiment are possible and that the present invention is not limited to such details but is to be considered in its broadest aspects and afforded the full scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed and described to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A tape dispenser comprising:

a support structure;

means for mounting a tape ture; and

unitary means for servicing tape mounted on the support structure and including a shaft, a pair of superposed plates and tape shearing means journaled on said shaft for individual swinging about the axis thereof, said shaft adapted to be removably mounted on said support structure for pivoting about the axis of said shaft whereby the tape servicing means are readily removable and replaceable as a unit, said plates adapted to receive a tape portion therebetween which tape portion is adapted to be withdrawn from said plates, withdrawal of the portion causing unrolling of the tape roll.

2. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein said tape servicing means further include spring means mounted on the shaft and reacting between said tape shearing means and said pair of plates and exerting pressure on the plates.

3. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein said tape shearing means include a transverse tape-severing blade with unbeveled ends and a V-shaped beveled edge therebetween, and a U-shaped blade having a pair of unbeveled rounded-point side edges from which beveled edges extend, one of said plates having apertures roll on the support struc- 6 in which said blades fit, said blades cooperating with the edges of said apertures for respectively severing the tape and shearing a U-shaped slit therein to provide a tape tab, the other of said plates having openings accommodating passage of the blades and withdrawal of the tab and attached tape from the servicing means.

4. The tape dispenser of claim 1, further comprising tape centering means including guide members mounted on the support structure for engaging the tape side edges of the tape portion, the mounting of said members being variable for centering tape of various widths.

5. A service unit for a tape dispenser comprising a shaft; a pair of superposed plates and a blade assembly journaled on said shaft for individual swinging about the axis thereof, said shaft adapted to be pivotally mounted on a tape dispenser.

6. The unit of claim 5, wherein said shaft is hollow.

7. The unit-of claim 5, wherein one of said plates has a curved lip distal end, and the other plate has a distal portion overlying said distal end and extending therebeyond.

8. The unit of claim 5, wherein said blade assembly includes a transverse blade with a V-shaped beveled edge and unbeveled ends, and a U-shaped blade having unbeveled rounded-point side edges from which beveled edges extend.

9. The unit of claim 8 wherein said plates have suitable openings therein for receiving said blades and distal portions extending beyond the blades.

10. A tape dispenser comprising a support structure having means for mounting a tape roll for turning, tape servicing means on the structure adapted to receive a tape portion and sever the tape and form a tape tab therein by which the tape portion can be withdrawn, means for centering the tape roll and tape portion, means for slowing turning of the tape roll, means for taking up slack in the portion of the tape between the tape roll and the tape servicing means, said tape servicing means including a pair of superposed plates and blade and accommodating withdrawal of the tape tab. l 

1. A tape dispenser comprising: a support structure; means for mounting a tape roll on the support structure; and unitary means for servicing tape mounted on the support structure and including a shaft, a pair of superposed plates and tape shearing means journaled on said shaft for individual swinging about the axis thereof, said shaft adapted to be removably mounted on said support structure for pivoting about the axis of said shaft whereby the tape servicing means are readily removable and replaceable as a unit, said plates adapted to receive a tape portion therebetween which tape portion is adapted to be withdrawn from said plates, withdrawal of the portion causing unrolling of the tape roll.
 2. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein said tape servicing means further include spring means mounted on the shaft and reacting between said tape shearing means and said pair of plates and exerting pressure on the plates.
 3. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein said tape shearing means include a transverse tape-severing blade with unbeveled ends and a V-shaped beveled edge therebetween, and a U-shaped blade having a pair of unbeveled rounded-point side edges from which beveled edges extend, one of said plates having apertures in which said blades fit, said blades cooperating with the edges of said apertures for respectively severing the tape and shearing a U-shaped slit therein to provide a tape tab, the other of said plates having openings accommodating passage of the blades and withdrawal of the tab and attached tape from the servicing means.
 4. The tape dispenser of claim 1, further comprising tape centering means including guide members mounted on the support structure for engaging the tape side edges of the tape portion, the mounting of said members being variable for centering tape of various widths.
 5. A service unit for a tape dispenser comprising a shaft; a pair of superposed plates and a blade assembly journaled on said shaft for individual swinging about the axis thereof, said shaft adapted to be pivotally mounted on a tape dispenser.
 6. The unit of claim 5, wherein said shaft is hollow.
 7. The unit of claim 5, wherein one of said plates has a curved lip distal end, and the other plate has a distal portion overlying said distal end and extending therebeyond.
 8. The unit of claim 5, wherein said blade assembly includes a transverse blade with a V-shaped beveled edge and unbeveled ends, and a U-shaped blade having unbeveled rounded-point side edges from which beveled edges extend.
 9. The unit of claim 8 wherein said plates have suitable openings therein for receiving said blades and distal portions extending beyond the blades.
 10. A tape dispenser comprising a support structure having means for mounting a tape roll for turning, tape servicing means on the structure adapted to receive a tape portion and sever the tape and form a tape tab therein by which the tape portion can be withdrawn, means for centering the tape roll and tape portion, means for slowing turning of the tape roll, means for taking up slack in the portion of the tape between the tape roll and the tape servicing means, said tape servicing means including a pair of superposed plates and tape tab forming means journaled on a common shaft readily mounted on the structure as a unit, said tape portion being received between said plates, one of said plates having an upwardly curved distal portion, and the other plate having a distal portion overlying said curved distal portion and extending therebeyond, said tape tab forming means including a central U-shaped blade with rounded points from which beveled edges extend, and said plates having openings receiving said blade and accommodating withdrawal of the tape tab. 